Abstract: A device containing a personalizable substrate associated to a reader allowing the conditional operation of an electric or electronic appliance after comparison of the data with a memory by an identification and comparison circuit located on an essential part of said appliance and methods of using the device under conditional operation of electric or electronic appliances.

Abstract: Anti-theft protection system for a motor vehicle, and a method for operating an anti-theft protection system. The anti-theft protection system has a transmitting and receiving unit in the motor vehicle, which transmits radar signals and then waits for echo signals. A code transmitter, which receives a radar signal, modulates this signal and sends it back. An evaluation unit analyses all the received echo signals firstly for authorization of the code transmitter and secondly in order to determine the relative interior/exterior position of the code transmitter with respect to the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method provides for real-time asset location tracking. An asset in a wide area network, be it a utilities network or a communication network, registers itself with a network management center. The registration process includes identification of a physical location of the asset usable for mapping and tracking the asset.

Abstract: A wireless recording device can be interrogated to determine its identity and its state. The state indicates whether a particular physical or chemical event has taken place. In effect, the physical or chemical event is recorded by the device. The identity of the device allows it to be distinguished from a number of similar devices. Thus the sensor device may be used in an array of devices that can be probed by a wireless interrogation unit. The device tells the interrogator who it is and what state it is in. The interrogator can thus easily identify particular items in an array that have reached a particular condition.

Abstract: An electronic locking system has a plurality of lockable storage enclosures, and a controller for controlling locking and unlocking of the storage enclosures. The system also includes a biometric sensor in communication with the controller for sensing one or more identifying characteristics of users, the controller being adapted to store the one or more identifying characteristics from the users in a memory and linking the stored identifying characteristics for the users with one of the lockable storage enclosures. The system is dynamic so that each time a lockable storage enclosure is used, one or more new identifying characteristics are associated with the lockable storage enclosure for locking and unlocking the lockable storage enclosure. Also disclosed is an intelligent locking device having a first slidable bolt for locking and unlocking a first enclosed area and a second slidable bolt for locking and unlocking a second enclosed area.

Abstract: An electronic device having a spill-resistant keyboard. The device utilizes a keyboard having a stiff support layer to which the plurality of keys are mounted. The stiff support layer cooperates with one or more water impermeable layers that reduce or prevent the flow-through of water or other liquids inadvertently spilled over the keyboard.

Abstract: A method and device for checking keyless vehicle access authorization of an operator. The method includes transmitting a code signal from a base station to a mobile identification (ID) transmitter carried by the operator. In response to receiving the code signal, the ID transmitter performs an action which is indicative of a reply signal that is detectable by the base station. The difference of a signal characteristic between a reference code signal monitored at the base station and the reply signal received by the base station is then determined. The signal characteristic correlates with signal propagation time and changes as a function of the distance between the base station and the ID transmitter. The distance between the base station and the ID transmitter is then determined on the basis of a relative determination based on the difference of the signal characteristic between the reference code signal and the reply signal.

Abstract: A remote controller for use with cable or satellite provided TV program signals in which an original “over the air” TV station's real channel assignment (such as channel 38) may be instead translated to a virtual channel (such as channel 14) by the cable or satellite service provider. The viewer may enter the TV station's real channel value and the remote controller automatically converts it to the virtual channel value prior to sending it as command to the controlled device, such as a TV-set, cable box or satellite receiver. Similarly, “over the air” TV station channel numbers which have not been intermediately translated (such as 4, 5, 12, etc.) may be entered by the viewer and directly sent to the controlled device. Additionally, single digit entries may be automatically prefixed with a leading ∅ to reduce likelihood for an entry error by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering characters with a reduced number of key presses. The sequence of one or more previously entered characters is used to select a character assignment matrix. The order of characters in the assignment matrix is determined by the probability that the letter will be the next in the sequence, with more likely characters being presented first. Repeated key presses are used to access characters with lower probability.

Abstract: A paging system separately transmits high capacity data through at least two paging channels of limited transmission rates in order to provide the high capacity data in real-time. A pager receives and processes the paging frequency signal transmitted through at least two channels, thereby generating regenerated data not to be separated.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a remote monitoring unit with a sensor unit in bidirectional wireless communication with a monitor unit. Information is transmitted bidirectionally between the sensor unit and the monitor unit. The monitor unit may inform the sensor unit that transmitted data has been corrupted, that the distance between the units is becoming too large, that transmission signal strength may be altered, that interference requires a change in transmitting frequency, or that attention is needed by the patient to the monitor unit.

Abstract: An identification transponder for transferring an identification code to a base station by varying an RF-signal transmitted by the base station in a rhythm which corresponds to the identification code. The identification transponder comprises an identification code generator, a rectifier; and a load transistor. The load transistor is arranged in such a manner that it performs two tasks: the task of rectifying the RF-signal to provide the DC supply voltage for the transponder, and the task of supplying a variable load to the rectifier to thereby vary the RF-signal transmitted by the base station.

Abstract: A vehicle security system programmer includes a housing and a plurality of manually settable switches carried by the housing. The vehicle security system is switchable to a programming mode responsive to a programming mode signal, and when in the programming mode sets a plurality of programmable features responsive to feature programming signals. The programmer also includes a programming mode circuit for communicating to the programmable vehicle security system a programming mode signal. Accordingly, the programmer can set the vehicle security system to the programming mode. In addition, the programmer also includes a feature programmer circuit for communicating to the programmable vehicle security system a plurality of feature programming signals based upon the plurality of manually settable switches. The programmer may be set for a number vehicle security systems, and sequentially connected to the vehicle security systems' for programming.

Abstract: Antennas 22 to 25 of a main unit machine 20 are implemented as coil antennas and the coil antennas are disposed in parallel with the floor of a vehicle so that the axis of each coil antenna becomes perpendicular to the floor. Particularly, the in-vehicle antennas 24 and 25 are placed at the front and the rear near the center in the floor direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a remote vehicle door control, a single receiver is used for both a wireless control whereby a door lock actuator is controlled according to an operating command transmitted by a wireless signal in conjunction with user operation of a communication device carried by a user, and a smart control whereby the door lock actuator is controlled automatically after completing a two-way communication process with the communication device. An arbitration means is provided to determine to which one of the wireless control and the smart control the receiver is assigned. If the receiver receives a wireless signal from the communication device, use of the receiver is assigned to the wireless control.

Abstract: Frequency translation and applications of same are described herein, including RF modem and wireless local area network (WLAN) applications. Such applications include, but are not limited to, frequency down-conversion, frequency up-conversion, enhanced signal reception, unified down-conversion and filtering, and combinations and applications of same.

Abstract: A vehicular electronic key system includes an on-vehicle apparatus which is communicable with an electronic key when the electronic key is in a predetermined area outside of a vehicle. The on-vehicle apparatus generates alarm when a door lock operation is executed from the outside of the vehicle and when the on-vehicle apparatus is not capable of communicating with the electronic key. Further, on-vehicle apparatus generates alarm when a key ID does not corresponds with an apparatus ID. Therefore, the electronic key system can firmly prevent the electronic key from being mislaid in the vehicle.

Abstract: A metering data preservation and storage methodology, including steps for protecting data during periods in which power is lost to the meter, is provided. In particular, a methodology for using non-volatile flash memory structures is used in association with various volatile memory structures for the storage and preservation of metering data acquired from a solid-state utility meter. The methodology includes the use of the volatile memory structures for the temporary storage and alteration of the measured and calculated metering data so as to avoid an effective reduction in the lifespan of the non-volatile memory structure which can only be written, erased and rewritten to a finite number of times. Further, such usage reduces costs associated with the maintenance and incorporation of such memory types in the meter. The methodology further includes the use of the non-volatile flash memory as a permanent storage medium for the acquired metering data during power loss to the meter.

Abstract: Time elapsed from the time when the sensor cover is opened and power supply to the fingerprint sensor is turned from off to on is counted and when there is no fingerprint image read-in command within a specified period of time power supply to the fingerprint sensor is turned off. Even if power supply to the fingerprint sensor is turned off, when a fingerprint image read-in command executes power supply to the fingerprint sensor is turned on and read-in of a fingerprint image commences. If a fingerprint image read-in command executes when the sensor cover is closed, that command is invalidated. In such a configuration, the opening and closing of a sensor cover works in synchronicity with on/off control of power supply for a fingerprint sensor and even when the sensor cover is open, wasteful electricity consumption through power supply continuing if the fingerprint sensor is not used within a specified period of time is prevented.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for testing a biometric feature wherein a set value of the biometric feature is stored in a data carrier in the form of one or more data records. For testing the biometric feature, measured values representing an instantaneous value of the biometric feature are first determined and made available in a terminal. The data carrier transmits to the terminal at least a subset of first reference values depending on the data record or data records for the set value. The terminal links data derived from the measured values with the subset of first reference values and transmits the result of the link to the data carrier. The data carrier tests the result of the link and determines therefrom whether the biometric feature is authentic.